It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Personal Trainer

It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Personal Trainer

LOS ANGELES (Wireless Flash) – You might not know the name Dan Isaacson, but thousands of Americans owe their livelihood to him: He’s the world’s first personal trainer. Isaacson is celebrating the 20th anniversary as a personal trainer this summer and says his first client was John Travolta, who hired him to get him in shape for the 1983 film, Staying Alive. Within months, Isaacson had lots of celebrity clients and, these days, he estimates 10,000 Americans work as personal trainers. 52-year-old Isaacson admits a few health nuts have jokingly told him, “We’re not worthy” but he insists on being humble and says a good personal trainer “works his or herself out of a job.” The 20th anniversary of the personal trainer officially occurs July 5 but Isaacson is celebrating early with a new fitness book, The Equation (St. Martins Press), which hits stores May 17.

Wed 04-24-02